Scottish snowsports have received a big financial boost to promote Scotland as a destination of choice for skiing and snowboarding. NEW

The VisitScotland Growth Fund has stumped up £30,000 towards a digital marketing campaign to showcase the country's five ski areas.

It will feature a "Tartan Freestyle Tour" of kilted, elite Scottish athletes and aims to boost the industry after a challenging 2016-17 season.

The money has been awarded to the Scottish Snowsports Marketing Group (SSMG) to generate interest in skiing and snowboarding in the country among new audiences under the brand of Ski-Scotland.

The 12-month campaign will use video and social media channels to target snowsports fans living in areas of England, Northern Ireland and the Scottish Central Belt who travel overseas for their annual ski or snowboarding holiday.

According to Ski-Scotland it will focus on Scotland's "quality facilities, easy accessibility and beautiful scenery".

Cairngorm

It's already reported to be creating a buzz after this winter's good early season snow and will continue into the 2018/19 season.

Ski-Scotland says it's estimated that a successful Scottish snowsports season can contribute more than £37million to the economy, of which only £7.5million is spent ‘on the hill' at the snowsports resorts with the remainder spent on accommodation, shopping, alternative activities, eating and drinking and on transport, particularly fuel for the car.

Chair of Ski-Scotland Andy Meldrum said: "We are delighted to have this support from VisitScotland Growth Fund which will allow us to use innovative activities and benefit from the huge reach of social media to promote the great skiing and snowboarding which Scotland's mountains offer.

"Already, due to excellent early snow, we are benefitting from this new activity."